With suspended duo Steve Matai and Jason King joining a lengthy list of unavailable stars on Tuesday, Manly coach Des Hasler will be sweating on the fitness of at least three key players for Sunday's do-or-die clash with the Dragons.
The Sea Eagles are facing a near mission impossible for the daunting trip to Kogarah, potentially missing as many as nine players.
For that reason Hasler will be hoping Kieran Foran (shoulder), Anthony Watmough (ankle) and Brent Kite (collarbone) will all recover in time to lead a spare-parts side into battle.
All three have been named in the Sea Eagles squad but are no certainties to play with Hasler conceding he won't know the full make-up of his side until just before kick-off.
It's understood Foran in next to no chance of playing meaning Jamie Lyon will shift from the centres to five-eighth with Tony Williams to go from the wing into the centres.
Teenager Will Hopoate has been named at full-back with Brent Kite likely to start at prop for King if he overcomes his collarbone injury.
In total Hasler has called up three players out of the Queensland Cup and another two from the Toyota Cup to face the minor premiers.
Terence Seu Seu, Daly Cherry-Evans and Vic Mauro have all received a call-up from feeder side Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles on an extended bench, while NYC winger Michael Oldfield is in contention for a spot in the backline.
"We'll back ourselves and our own belief in each other," Hasler said on Tuesday.
"There's probably eight definites on the sideline at the moment and potentially another couple on top of that."
"We won't get a clear indication until towards the end of the week."
"It's just as well we're playing Sunday."
St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett has recalled the five players he rested in Sunday's win over the Rabbitohs.
Skipper Ben Hornby, five-eighth Jamie Soward and forward Dean Young and Jeremy Smith will all start, while prop Trent Merrin has been named on a lengthy eight-man Bench.
Canberra hooker Travis Waddell has been cleared of any fracture in his jaw and has been passed fit to take on Penrith as the in-form Raiders travel to CUA Stadium on Saturday night.
It means Raiders coach David Furner has been able to name an unchanged side for the do-or-die clash with the Panthers.
Unfortunately for the Green Machine co-captain Alan Tongue won't play as he is still struggling to shake a niggling calf injury.
"Alan's made some good progress but at this stage it’s very doubtful that he would be ready for Saturday," Raiders coach David Furner said.
"Travis has been cleared of any damage to his jaw and he’ll be right to play that back up dummy half role for us."
Fullback Lachlan Coote has failed in his bid to return from a groin injury for the Panthers but there was better news for the mountain men with the two Luke's - Walsh and Lewis back in the line-up.
Just a week after having surgery on a broken thumb, veteran prop Luke Bailey has been named in the Gold Coast side which hosts the New Zealand Warriors at Skilled Park on Friday night.
Livewire full-back Preston Campbell is also set for a return from a hamstring injury which has seen him miss the last three weeks.
It's a big boost for Titans coach John Cartwright who also has injury concerns